Maintaining Status

Things to Remember for Maintaining Status

You must attend the school that issued your visa document (I-20 or DS-2019 formerly IAP-66).

You must carry a full load of classes each semester except during summer vacation (12 credit hours for undergraduate students; 6 credit hours for graduate students).

If you change your major or your degree level, you must contact International Student Office (ISSS) (phone: 389-1281) for more information.

You may not work off campus without permission from the USCIS. Come to ISSS for more information.

You may work on campus up to 20 hours per week. (You will need to come to ISSS for "work authorization" form).

If you move, you must give the ISSS your new address within 10 days of the move.

If you are travelling outside of the United States, make sure you have valid passport, visa and I-20 while you re-enter.

While travelling outside of the United States, if you are on the process of transferring out from MSU, make sure you use MSU I-20 to re-enter.

You are limited on the number of on-line courses which do not require face-to-face interaction. You may have one class/three credits toward your full-time courseload of study. For example, an undergraduate with only 12 credits may have one 3 credit course with 9 classroom credits. A graduate student with only 6 credits can only have 3 credits on-line and the other 3 credits being classroom credits.

Keeping your address current with MSU and Immigration

Continue to update your address at Campus Hub in the Centennial Student Union or log into E-Services:

(1) Log into E-Services

(2) Under "Account Maintenance" update your local and permanent address as where you are residing/living in the Mankato area.

(3) You may also submit form AR-11 within 10 days of the change. It is always good to keep a copy of the form when mailing, or get a receipt from the Post Office when mailing.

If you should lose F-1 student status, follow these procedures:

If you are "terminated" in the SEVIS system as an F-1 student, there are options to apply for Reinstatement. Please see an adviser and follow [DOC] instructions (38 KiB) from Kearney International Center on applying for Reinstatement: